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Powering On After Hurricane Michael
11/26/2018 12:00:00 AM
Hurricane Michael was the most powerful hurricane to hit the Florida panhandle in nearly 50 years. A week after Michael made landfall, the scope of damage became clearer. The Florida panhandle was devastated; homes were wiped away and towns were nearly obliterated. Across Bay County, which took a direct hit from the storm, more than 2,500 structures were damaged and at least 160 were destroyed. The storm killed at least 19 people in Florida, most of them in that coastal county. At least 10 other deaths happened elsewhere across the South.
A week later, some 125,000 customers were still without power. In Calhoun County, Fl., 98% of the customers didn’t have power according to the emergency management website. Drivers had been lining up for hours to get fuel after gas stations in the hardest-hit areas were completely destroyed, and without power those still standing could not operate. Residents also had to rely on airdropped food and water to survive. Lack of electricity and phone service hampered efforts to distribute food and water and to contact residents not heard from since the storm hit.
As residents hoped for relief, some were apparently growing desperate. In many areas devastated by the hurricane, law enforcement officials battled looting of homes and businesses that were without electricity. Officials said often the looters had been armed. Many businesses had broken doors and shattered windows. One victim told the Associated Press that thieves entered her home while she and her four children were sleeping. She had left the front door open to allow a breeze in during the steamy weather following the hurricane, as her power was off. She said the thieves took her purse even as she was clutching it to her chest while she slept.
Under normal circumstances, many criminals avoid homes and businesses with a security system. When the power goes out, some burglars see it as an opportunity to scout for homes and businesses that may be vulnerable. Having a generator hardwired to the electrical panel can help protect your possessions. Security systems can be one of the circuits that the generator powers.
To power a commercial generator, you need either diesel fuel or natural gas. Natural gas is becoming a popular fuel of choice because it seems to stay intact in events like Michael, as it is underground and is not disrupted by water. Michael had caused few, if any problems to the natural gas infrastructure.
By comparison, generator owners requiring diesel fuel saw several issues. Flooding and debris in the road made it challenging to get more fuel after the storm made landfall. Oftentimes roadways can be blocked and debris can be an impediment to trucking and logistics. Refueling a generator then becomes a large challenge if you are using a diesel set.
Simply put, natural gas gen-sets have a more robust fuel source in a major outage event. Generators require reliable fuel supplies for extended running, and long-term outages, like those caused by Hurricane Michael, often expose the weaknesses within the diesel fuel infrastructure.
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